Don't be a victim! SBR's guide to sportsbook account security
SBR receives thousands of
sportsbook complaints per year. A small percentage of these complaints are from players who say their accounts have been hacked. While some of these claims are proven to be fraudulent, others have shown to be a security breach by a third party. Your sportsbook account should be treated no different than online banking. This involves some simple steps that will greatly reduce your chance at becoming a victim.
Tip #1: Don't use the same password at multiple sportsbooks
A player should have a unique password for every sportsbook that he or she uses. The same rule applies to e-mail passwords, online banking pages, and any other sites the player logs into that could be targeted by an intruder. In nearly all cases where a sportsbook account is accessed without authorization, the player's password was recycled. Using the same password at multiple sites makes identifying the source of an attack infinitely harder. It also creates the possibility that multiple accounts are compromised. Use a different password for each site that you log into.
Read Tips 2-5 for
protecting your sportsbook account.
Tip #2: Use a strong password with random letters and numbers
Never make one of your passwords a combination of your name and birthday. The same goes for immediate family members or a pet. Your password should be a random combination of upper & lowercase letters and numbers. More sophisticated programs have been invented to run thousands of name and number combinations. Your password should not contain names that could be found in a dictionary or phonebook.
Rule #3: Secure your wireless network
If you access the internet wirelessly, there are vital steps you must take to secure your wireless network. The first is to change the default administrator log-in used to configure your router online. The second is to enable a form of network encryption such as WPA or WEP. Choose a random security key using the same parameters as you do when selecting an online password. Finally, replace your default SSID (network name).
Rule #4: Avoid accessing your sportsbook account in public locations
While it can be tempting to place a bet from the local Starbucks, doing so poses a number of risks that can spell trouble down the road. One of the vulnerabilities that come with using a public computer to submit your account details is the possibility for these details to be stolen. Scammers can use tools such as keyloggers to record all of a computers keyboard strokes. They can then import this information onto their personal machines and proceed to carry out their attacks.
SBR has received many complaints from players saying they've had their accounts frozen for inspection or in the rarer worst case scenario ultimately closed due to accessing their accounts in public locations. While most sportsbooks apply common sense in these situations, by accessing your account in a public location where it is conceivable that other players are accessing their own accounts, you run the risk of having your sportsbook ID associated with players who have accounts in poor standing.
Rule #5: Never share your sportsbook account details
The only person you should ever repeat your sportsbook account password to is an employee of the sportsbook that is authorized to ask this information. If you have doubts about giving your password to a sportsbook representative via live chat or e-mail, call and ask to speak with an account manager for peace of mind. While you might trust a family member to place a bet for you when you are unable to, and while you might even trust this person alone in a room with your life-savings, the allure of online betting can make people do irrational things while chasing a high or trying to generate cash for themselves. Never share your sportsbook account password if you want to maximize your chances at not becoming a victim.
Read the
SportsbookReview rating guide for a comprehensive list of over 900 sportsbooks.